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Twelve different meal boxes seen from above
A full meal without meat

Vegetarian meals
at work

In many vending machines and canteens, the vegetarian option is a cheese sandwich, or a salad that is gone by noon. People who do not eat meat then eat a snack, or bring something every day. If part of your team eats vegetarian, that is exactly what decides whether they use what is on offer. Below: what makes a vegetarian meal a proper one, and how to offer it recognisably.

Full portions Clearly labelled Next to the usual range
Check your site Healthy eating at work
Where it goes wrong

One option,
and it is gone

It usually goes like this: there is one vegetarian dish, and it is either not recognisable or the first thing to go. Someone who does not eat meat quickly learns there is nothing for them and stops looking. They rarely complain. You notice it in a range that is used less than expected.

On mixed sites this often overlaps with halal: people who eat halal or kosher also choose vegetarian when in doubt. What we do and do not guarantee for that part of the range is under halal vending.

One option Not recognisable Always gone
What is usually missing
  • More than one vegetarian choice
  • A meal, not just a salad
  • Clear labelling on the pack
  • Enough protein for physical work
  • Something available after lunch
  • Someone who follows what sells
Comparison

Vegetarian options
by solution

  Classic vending machine Canteen with dish of the day Chilled fridge
Vegetarian choice Snacks, rarely a meal Usually one dish Several dishes side by side
Recognisable Rarely labelled On the menu board On the pack itself
Outside lunchtime Yes, but not a meal No Yes, day and night
Adjusted to demand Hardly As the kitchen decides Per product, by what sells

The right-hand column is what we make, so weigh it with that in mind.

Four meal boxes seen from above
What makes it a full meal

More than
a salad

Hot and hearty

Dishes and bowls with pulses or tofu, meant to replace lunch or a night-shift meal.

Lighter

Salads with egg, dairy such as skyr and quark, and nuts for a break or after training.

Recognisable

Vegetarian labelled on the pack, so nobody has to ask a colleague.

Whether a vegetarian meal has enough protein for physical work is on the pack. More on protein in the workplace under high-protein meals. We do not give nutrition or health advice. Nutritional values and allergens are on every pack; for individual questions, a dietitian or your occupational health doctor is the right person to ask.

Employee eating a salad box
Sound familiar?

Signs vegetarian food
matters at your site

In student settings the share is often higher; see student housing and campus. How vegetarian fits in with other ways of providing food is covered in food for employees.

How big a share

Not two
token products

How much of the fridge is vegetarian depends on your team. Start with a share large enough to choose from, then adjust to what sells. What stays disappears; what sells gets more space. After a few weeks it often turns out that colleagues who do eat meat regularly choose vegetarian too, if the dish looks good.

Adding vegetarian food changes nothing about how the fridge works or takes payment. What the fridge costs depends on your people, hours and the route you choose; see what a smart fridge costs.

How to set it up
01
Buy
The unit is yours, with the range and prices you set.
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02
Rent or lease
No purchase price up front, with a fee or instalments.
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03
Organising restocking
Your own team, your caterer or a local supplier, guided by sales per product.
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Read on
01
Salads and bowls
When a salad replaces lunch.
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02
Allergens in vending
Read what you take before you pay.
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03
Care facility
A diverse team on night and rotating shifts.
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What goes inside
Healthy food at work High-protein meals Fresh meals Hot meals Salads and bowls Healthy snacks Healthy drinks Halal vending Ramadan at work Smart fridge for your business
Approach, delivery and safety
Meal prep for businesses Meal delivery at work Healthy vending Healthy vending policy Allergens Food safety Food waste
Frequently asked questions

About vegetarian
food at work

Is there a vegan range too?

Vegetarian is part of the range. If you are specifically looking for vegan options, ask in the conversation; we do not promise it here, as it depends on the producers available to you.

How do people recognise a vegetarian product in the fridge?

From the pack. Every product is packed and labelled individually, so people read for themselves what they take and do not need to ask anyone.

Does a vegetarian meal contain enough protein for physical work?

That varies by dish, and the nutritional values are on the pack. Dishes with pulses, tofu or dairy contain more than a vegetable-only salad. We do not advise on what an individual needs.

How large will the vegetarian part of the range be?

It is matched to your team and adjusted to what sells. From the start, there should be enough vegetarian dishes to choose from. The sales per product show whoever restocks where to add or cut.

Are vegetarian and meat products in the same fridge?

Yes. The products are individually packed and stay sealed until someone opens them, so they do not touch. A separate shelf for vegetarian is possible if that suits your team better or makes things easier to find.

What does your colleague who does not eat meat eat?

Eight short questions about your site and your team. We suggest a range in which vegetarian is a real choice.

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